House passes bill to allow concealed weapons across state lines

The Republican-controlled House passed a bill to allow conceal carry permits to be honored across state lines. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The House passed a bill Wednesday that will allow concealed carry weapon permit holders to conceal their weapon in any other states.

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act passed 231-198 in the House with six Democrats voting for it and 14 Republicans opposed.

The bill had support from the National Rifle Association, which praised its passage.

"This vote marks a watershed moment for Second Amendment rights," Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA, said in a statement. "The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is the culmination of a 30-year movement recognizing the right of all law-abiding Americans to defend themselves, and their loved ones, including when they cross state lines."

The author of the bill, Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., said CCW permits should be treated like driver licenses and marriage licenses, which are recognized across state lines.

"If I get married in North Carolina but I move to Arizona, I'm not a single man again. They recognize that marriage," Hudson said during House floor debate. "The concealed-carry permit should be recognized the same way."

But Democrats who opposed the bill said more lenient gun laws opens the door for more gun violence.

"Just so we're clear: #HR38, the first major piece of gun legislation we're considering this year, after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, is a bill that allows people to carry hidden, loaded handguns ANYWHERE in the U.S., regardless of state laws. Absurd," Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif. tweeted.

Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., said the United States has had more than 300 mass shootings in 2017.

"@HouseGOP responds with #HR38 that actually makes it easier for people to bring guns into our schools, churches, and communities," he tweeted.

The bill also proposes improvements to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System and requires a response within 60 days to people who believe they were mistakenly added to the system.